Real Madrid forward Jese Rodriguez moves to PSG

Madrid, Aug 8 (IANS) European football champions Real Madrid confirmed on Monday the transfer of Spanish forward Jese Rodriguez to Paris Saint-Germain in a five-year contract.

According to the statement on the club official website, Jese, whose deal was worth 25 million euro ($27 million), will leave the club after nine years, as he joined the club at the age of 14.

“The club would like to thank him for his years of dedication and professionalism from the academy through to the first team and we would like to wish him luck in the new stage of his career,” the note added.

The 23-year-old is PSG’s fifth signing for the 2016-17 season after Hatem Ben Arfa, Grzegorz Krychowiak, Thomas Meunier and Giovani Lo Celso.

After making his first-team debut in the 2011-12 campaign, it was during the 2013-14 season that Jese became an integral part of the Real Madrid first team, scoring his first professional goal on October 26, 2013, away to FC Barcelona.

Over the last three seasons, the player has grown in experience, playing 62 Liga matches (13 goals) and 15 UEFA Champions League matches (one goal).

During his time in the Spanish capital, Jesé won two Champions League crowns (2014, 2016), one World Club Cup (2014), one Liga title (2012) and one Copa del Rey (2014).

In 2012, he won the European Under-19 championships in Estonia, finishing top scorer of the competition with five goals and netting the only goal in the final, against Greece.

“I am delighted to join Paris Saint-Germain, who have become one of Europe’s most competitive clubs,” declared Jesé after signing his contract.

Like Paris Saint-Germain, I have big ambitions for the coming seasons and it will be a great pleasure to work under the direction of Unai Emery, who has developed an excellent reputation in Spain, and across Europe, for his quality as a coach. I can’t wait to begin this next challenge of my career.”